<p>I recently had an epiphany that I have ADD. I knew I had a problem for years but I never knew what it was. Every symptom matches me perfectly and I read over some of the diagnostic requirements. I'm very intelligent, but my grades suffered a lot from ADD. I think I could write a very good persuasive essay on this topic that might help me get into some schools that might be a reach with my gpa. </p>
<p>I've tried taking my friends add medication a couple times and I can say that I am a completely different person when I'm on it. I'm extremely motivated and attentive, have no problems getting things done, and overall am a much better student.</p>
<p>The problem thing is, I haven't been oficially diagnosed yet but I am certian I have it. I have a doctors appointment next week for an evalutaion. College applications for my school are due tomorrow afternoon so without an official diagnosis, I feel like my essay will lose credibility.</p>
<p>As a mom, my thought is that this would be a risky essay topic. As you point out, you don’t have an official diagnosis. Also, it is illegal to take medicine that hasn’t been prescribed for you, so I wouldn’t recommend admitting that in a college application essay.</p>
<p>I realize that it is a risky topic, but I really feel that it well describe me best and explain why my gpa is low relative to my intellect. (3.0)</p>
<p>I don’t think I have anything to lose with it since I’m applying to a few schools that I should have no problem being accepted into regardless of whether or not my essay is liked.
I’m also applying to a few reach schools that I’d love to go to, but my academic records are a little under what they usually accept. I think my only shot at getting in is by writing a compelling essay explaining my ability and how this conditon has affected me.</p>
<p>This is a description of a supplemental essay explaining special circumstances, not a main essay. Even if schools buys this idea, they still aren’t going to know enough about you if this is all you tell them. </p>
<p>Schools are not going to give you a huge break because you claim to have discovered within weeks of application deadlines that you have ADD. Logical questions that jaded readers might ask include: Why should we accept your diagnosis, you are not a doctor. Why didn’t you,your parents, or your schools think of this any time in the last 12 years, ADD is not exactly a secret. How do we know that you aren’t just looking for excuses for your grades? How can we have any idea what your grades or life generally would be if you had been taking medication?</p>
<p>Schools will not be eager to invite onto their campus someone who sees merit in taking other people’s medications.</p>
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<p>And you still don’t. </p>
<p>Perhaps you could write an essay about the need to follow one’s instincts and/or about the need to address a problem rather than ignore it and allow it to continue to exist. </p>
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<p>You are absolutely right. Make the best of whatever your background is and don’t entrust your college future to claiming at a very late date that you have ADD.</p>
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<p>Well, I disagree. You lose the chance to write some other essay that is personal, detailed, and revealing and can be persuasive to your reach colleges.</p>
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<p>Good move.</p>
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<p>What is the basis for this thought? Are you saying that there is nothing else in your life about which you can write a personal, detailed, and revealing essay? That really you are defined by your presumed, newly discovered illness?</p>